Cyclone Gaja: Death toll in Tamil Nadu climbs to 33

Speaking to reporters at Salem, about 350 kilometres from here, Palaniswami said that 20 men, 11 women, and 2 children died due to the cyclone that crossed the Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam districts between 12.30 a.m. and 2.30 a.m. on Friday.

The cyclone left a trail of destruction in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts, damaging houses, huts and crops.

Palaniswami said about 70 livestock and several goats, poultry and deer have also died due to the cyclone.

Some 127,000 trees were uprooted by the strong cyclonic winds that touched a maximum speed of about 120 kmph, the Chief Minister added.

He said supplies of water, milk and food were being distributed to the people affected by the calamity.

About 177,500 people are staying in 351 relief camps in the cyclone-affected areas.

The Chief Minister said about 30,000 electricity poles were broken, and 105 power sub-stations affected. About 10,000 personnel have been sent to the cyclone-affected coastal districts to repair the installations.

On complaints from people in cyclone hit districts that they did not get food, he said there was no such thing anywhere. Food was stocked in advance to make it available for people.

"District Collectors and ministers from the respective districts are camping in affected areas and carrying out relief operations on a war footing."

Milk was sought and it has been despatched, he said, adding five more ministers, including D Jayakumar, and RB Udaya Kumar, have been deputed to cyclone hit districts to oversee relief work.

The navy has also augmented the government's relief efforts, with one helicopter sortie flown from INS Parundu, the Indian air naval station at Uchipuli in Ramanathapuram district, to assess the damage in and around Ramanathapuram.

Two ships "Chetlat" and "Cheriam" were diverted to Karaikal to assist state authorities in relief work, a defence release said.

Three ships at Chennai and two at Visakhapatnam were on stand by to augment relief efforts at short notice, it said.

The navy has also positioned a Dornier detachment at Arakkonam, about 78 from Chennai, to facilitate damage assessment and any other assistance that may be needed.

The main opposition party DMK expressed grief over the loss of lives while PMK and a farmers' body demanded adequate compensation to ryots, whose crops had been destroyed.

DMK chief MK Stalin, in a tweet, claimed that 36 people have lost their lives in the cyclone and expressed his grief.

The leader of the opposition, who Saturday embarked on a tour of storm affected regions, said the cyclone has caused large-scale destruction in Cauvery delta districts like Tiruvarur.

He said the livelihood of the common people, including farmers and fishermen, had been severely hit.

PMK chief S Ramadoss demanded that the government declare Vedaranyam (Nagapattinam district), Mannargudi (Tiruvarur), and Pattukottai (Thanjavur) as disaster struck regions and implement rehabilitation schemes.

He wanted Rs 50,000 compensation for coconut trees as per a scheme announced by the government for acquiring land for Salem-Chennai expressway.

Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, a CPI(M) affiliated farmers' body, demanded a proper enumeration of losses to standing crops. A compensation of Rs 20,000 for a coconut tree, Rs 25,000 per acre for paddy, and Rs one lakh an acre for plantain were among its demands.

"Coconut trees over thousands of acres of farmland have been completely uprooted, causing irreparable damage to ryots.

Meanwhile, actor Rajinikanth appreciated the members of his Rajini Makkal Mandram for their work in providing relief to the cyclone-affected people.

The Met office, meanwhile, said the Northeast monsoon has been active over Tamil Nadu. Some regions experienced heavy rainfall, with Sivaganga recording 17 cm followed by the hill station of Kodaikanal (14 cm) between Friday and Saturday morning.